Hurricane Arthur: Vacationers Evacuate North Carolina's Outer Banks

Bill Kirk of Ashland, Ky., carries his belongings from the beach house he rented, before complying with the mandatory evacuation orders for Hatteras Island in Rodanthe, North Carolina, July 3, 2014. Mark Wilson / Getty Images

A stream of vacationers and residents began to pack up and leave parts of North Carolina's flood-prone Outer Banks as Arthur strengthened to a hurricane early Thursday.

Bill Kirk of Ashland, Ky., above, carried his belongings from the beach house he had rented on Hatteras Island, which was under a mandatory evacuation order for visitors.

Vehicles drive north on Highway 12 in Pea Island, North Carolina, following a mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island due to approaching Hurricane Arthur, July 3, 2014. Mark Wilson / Getty Images